firedoc5

How many have worked with or even said yourself jokingly, that one of the benefits to becoming an EMT is to drive fast? We know that's not a serious reason, but to the general public there is that stigma we need to avoid.

Some guarding when palpating. Upper mid-abd., almost under the xiphoid process was becoming more painful. Sudden on-set of extreme fatigue just prior to arriving at ER.

OK, curve ball time. This threw me for a loop too. Just before transporting she said that her right sided abd. pain was crossing to her left side. Started to complain of "heart burn", but not nauseated. BP 120/100, Monitor showed sinus tach @ 100. She did say she had some pain the day before but not as severe, didn't think anything of it til just then. IV NS started. Her right flank pain also spread to her left side and up her left shoulder blade. Became diaphoretic moderately. Appeared somewhat pale under cabin lights, which is very accurate sometimes.

Showing my age again, LP 5's were all the rage. And believe it or not, sometimes on a transfer where a LP5 was not available (not everyone had one yet), we had to lug what I think was a LP3 around from the old ER equiptment. Heavy, bouncy scope, misprinting, piece of trash. And thankfully worked our way up to the 12.

Most, if not all agencies, also have a No Tolerance to alcohol also. If not they should. I worked with a few that as soon as they got off their 24 hr. shift, the next 48 hrs. they were literally in a bar. They might have stopped drinking 6-8 hrs. before their next shift. Sometimes they'd come in OK and other times hung over, or even still "a little buzzed". When this got to be a problem they argued that they couldn't be told what they could or couldn't do off duty. But the City Attorney found where if your activities does effect your work performance as you come on duty, it can be grounds for actions. I know one guy quit and became a dispatcher. One straightened up and sobered up. The other, who even though it came up negative in a UA, was also in possesion of pot. He was dismissed immediately. I agree whole hardily of alcohol being as big if not bigger of a problem than pot. But by law, even having pot is illegal. Hence illegal = No Tolerance.

I really like the new "Personal Side" area. Nice touch.

There are a few here that know that I've been visiting my folks in Louisiana. That I had to get away from IL due to issues with my wife. Through some e-mails and a few phone calls, we've got somethings worked out. I've been gone about seven weeks but I guess I'm going back on Monday. We've still got a lot to work though, but I think we have a good start. I hate leaving LA, but one way or the other I know I have to go back. Thanx to everyone who has put up with me, and listened to me. I can't express my appreciation enough.

I had a Fire Chief like that.

Last period was normal. Insists no sexual activity, ever. Finally got to where I could get the monitor on her. No corset, but had a strapless "wonder bra" which she didn't need. Monitor showed NSR @72. Some pain on palpating abd. up right quad. No other abd. pain. Temp. normal. Did start to develope right sided flank pain, but "just uncomfortable". Last ate at the ceremony dinner about an hour before collapse. Had salad and a spagetti dish. Still no N/V. Seemed to be improving with O2. She did not walk to ambulance. No pain of breast, let my partner check that. She was a big help with that. Patient did state that removing her bra was a "relief", but did not feel stressed by it before. Lung sounds clear bilat. Pupils PERL.

"All Along the Watch Tower" - Jimi Hendrix

I've GOT to remember that one.

Believe it or not, the only speeding ticket I've ever had was in an ambulance with a broken speedometer. It was one of those old suburban type. (showing my age now) I was returning from a coal mine call. It was 03:00, been up for about 32hrs. It was winter, had the window rolled down hanging my head out. Had something jamming on the radio. State Trooper got me 71 in a 55. The speedometer just bounced up and down so I had no idea. Sorry, but the name calling is uncalled for. You can point out someone's error(s) without the name calling. And I know Ruff well enough that I knew there was a good explanation. I've too waved at other ambulances. Especially if I knew who they were. If they were from another agency and they were good friends of mine, I'd occasionally wave with just one finger with a big grin on my face. That was back in my younger days.

Anytime you are going over the speed limit, or think you might, you need to have at least the lights on. Siren not necessarily needed except in heavier traffic. Why didn't he have his lights on. Or was it not all that much of an emergency and he was just not paying attention to his speed. Like most ambulance personnel, he might have had a lead foot. One thing I think is more dangerous is how some services, especially smaller volunteer one's, think that anytime they have a patient aboard, especially non-emergency/ transport only runs, they still their lights on. I think some do it just so they can have those pretty lights going since they may not do it very often. They'd sit at a stop light until it turns green. Confusing other traffic who would stop expecting them to proceed. We watched where a civilian driver stopped in the middle of an intersection and got out, waving his arms trying to get the ambulance driver to go on through and he wouldn't. He'd just sit there and smile and wave. Drove us nuts. We got on the radio and told them to either go through or turn off their lights.

Way to go. Now the real fun starts.

Inside a fellowship hall of a private club, Elks I believe. She's about a week before her period is due. No PMS. One thing with the dress, "her cups runith over", and not quite a hoop skirt but it's big. (I'm not up on fashion). No drug use ever, nor ETOH. Taking no meds, no allergies. None of the other girls feeling hot or sick. No N/V. Just occasional queasiness a few minutes before syncopal episode. No shortness of breath.

Well, let's see. When I was on the Fire Dept., usually have one guy off on a vacation day, and one off on a personal day. Using that formula...Just shy of 20,000.

What do you call a smart blonde? A hair dyed red head. :roll:

A plane while crossing the Atlantic had some kind of mechanical problem and they needed to lose weight. They throw out all the luggage and carry on's. That still wasn't enough. A Frenchman stood up and walked to the door. He yelled, "Viva La France" and jumped out. Well, a British man couldn't let a Frenchman out do him, so he went to the door and yelled, "God save the Queen", and jumped. In the back row was a 300 lbs. Texan. When he stood up all the passengers were relieved to loose that much weight. He starts walking to the door. On his way up he grabbed two Mexicans and carried them. When he got to the door he yelled, "Remember the Alamo", and threw them out.

Called to a ceremony where several young girls were receiving awards. While standing in line in a very fancy dress, 17 yr. old girl passes out. On arrival the girl was conscious but seemed confused, head resting in mom's lap. She could not recall the event. Skin warm, slightly diaphoretic. Resp. 20, Pulse 60 reg., BP 110/60. Unable to put on monitor due to dress and by-standers. Have to wait until inside ambulance. Placed on 4L O2 per NC. Chief complaint of feeling weak and "woozie". No pain. No ETOH. BG 115 (If I remember right). No Hx. of medical problems. Slight built but athletic. Asked about possible pregnancy, she's starts sobbing. Go for it. I will say that it can throw you a curve ball...

Man! You just never know. It didn't say much about the semi and it's driver. God Speed to Gene and Steve. [-o<

"Whipping Post" - Allman Bros.

I'd go with that. We said we had to learn how to drive defensively, because we were already offending drivers. I just remember they actually called it Defensive and Evasive Driving.

That's what I was thinking. A few times after having a kidney stone they put me on Pyridium, which turned my urine a very bright neon orange.

I had a FDNY t-shirt before 9/11. I wonder if that would work, if I still had it. :roll:

Are you sure? And, how would you know? :-k